Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown: A Review
The Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown is the perfect location for your next visit to Charleston, thanks to the up-and-coming location and easy walkability to stores, restaurants, and museums.
I know that Charleston is one of the most visited cities in the United States, which still blows my mind as someone who grew up here and watched the city change rapidly after Hurricane Hugo.
The Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown is one more example of how the city continues to grow and redefine itself, and it is an excellent addition to the offerings on the northern end of the historic peninsual.
When I partnered with the Holiday Inn brand to feature one of their properties, I immediately thought of a staycation here in Charleston, South Carolina, and was delighted to see my hometown from a new perspective.
Whether you’re also looking for a quick weekend escape or a place to base a longer Charleston visit, the Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown is a great option for families and first time visitors alike!
I am a part of the Holiday Inn Influencer program and was provided a two-night stay to help me write this post. As always, all opinions are my own.
This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to book a hotel through those links, I will receive a small percentage from the booking company at no additional charge to you.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I wrote this post in 2016 when the hotel was just a few years old. It closed permanently in 2023 and the building was sold.
Today, the building at 425 Meeting Street in downtown Charleston remains, and the exterior still looks as it did when it was the Holiday Inn. There have been several things in this building post-Holiday Inn, including a tapas bar and office spaces.
If you’re looking for other places to stay in this area of Charleston, I’d recommend:
Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston Historic District, which is next door to where the Holiday Inn was,
The Nickel House, which is a new boutique hotel just 2 blocks from the old Holiday Inn, and
The Hyatt House Charleston Historic District, which is in this same area of downtown and in a sprawling complex with restaurants and shops.
If you’d like more recommendations on what to see, do, and eat from a Charleston native (that’s me!), check out my huge guide to the Holy City: First Time Visitor’s Guide to Charleston, South Carolina.
History of the Holiday Inn
I can remember staying in Holiday Inn hotels when I was off on family road trips as a kid.
I didn't know it then, but that was exactly what the founder of the Holiday Inn brand wanted. Kemmons Wilson designed a company where families could travel together; in fact, Holiday Inn hotels were the first to allow kids to stay free, which is the industry standard now.
Fast forward 62 years, and Holiday Inn hotels around the globe welcome more than 120 million people a year.
The location in downtown Charleston is one of the newest additions to the Holiday Inn company. It opened back in 2012, and it's become a cornerstone in all of the incredible revitalization efforts that are happening on Upper King and Upper Meeting Streets.
Location of the Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown
When I was in high school, I used to go downtown to shop and have dinner with my friends on special occasions.
Back then (in the early 2000s), there wasn't much going on where the Holiday Inn hotel now stands: there were mostly boarded up homes and offices and very little foot traffic in the area.
In the last ten years, however, this part of the Upper Peninsula has exploded in growth, and you can now find dozens of shops and restaurants within just a block or two of the Holiday Inn hotel. The Children's Museum, a favorite haunt of my toddler, and the Charleston Visitors Center are both right around the corner.
If you're interested in shopping the City Market or eating at one of the many restaurants along East Bay, you're within a ten minute walk through the heart of historic downtown. So much of Charleston's charm comes from just absorbing the atmosphere, and walking from the hotel to the Battery takes you through the best of the city.
Room Review
I've stayed in many Holiday Inn hotel rooms, and all were spacious with a large bathroom.
The room we had on this stay was no exception. Room 420 was quiet, clean, and decorated in a relaxing, neutral style.
There was plenty of space to put all of our stuff!
There was a desk where I worked during our stay, a comfortable chaise lounge where I watched some college football on Saturday afternoon, and a glorious walk-in shower.
Our room also had a small balcony where my husband and I enjoyed soaking up the early morning sunshine during our stay.
Our room overlooked the hotel's pool. There's currently construction going on in the lot next door, and I'm excited to see what will be the hotel's neighbor as this area continues to grow.
Hotel Service
From the valets to the staff at breakfast, everyone we met was courteous and happy to help.
I had a tiny bit of trouble at check-in as the front desk attendant was confused about my reservation, but she was very patient with me as I retrieved the necessary emails.
At 11 PM, she was close to the end of her shift (which she admitted had been a long one), but she was extremely polite and kind throughout our encounter.
The next day, I saw her again, and she was all smiles again.
When I had general questions about the hotel, the front desk staff patiently answered all of them.
In all of the hotels in which I've been a guest, I have had very few experiences where every staff member was polite and friendly. I'm happy to say that the Holiday Inn Charleston Historic District was one of those places.
Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown Amenities
The hotel has all of the amenities that you'd expect from a mid-sized hotel: a fitness center, free wifi, a pool, and a business center.
There are also three different meeting or event spaces onsite, so you could use the hotel for a wedding or small conference without ever having to leave the property.
There was actually a wedding going on there the weekend of our visit.
I ran into the aunt of the bride on the elevator, and she told me that the staff had gone above and beyond for her niece.
Charleston's known for its vast wedding resources, so it's good to know that this Holiday Inn hotel is finding a foothold in that market.
The Meeting Room is the onsite restaurant and it makes one killer breakfast at $12.95/per person.
My husband and I both loved the omelet station where we could get our omelets customized with our choice of cheese and veggies.
The bacon on the buffet was some of the best that I've had recently, and I ate way more than I should have.
There was also a waffle station, a juice station, hashbrowns, sausage, pastries, and fruit. One thing that I expected at the breakfast was grits, but this Southern breakfast staple was missing from the lineup.
The Meeting Room also serves tapas and cocktails in the evening, and provides the food for the hotel's room service.
Final Thoughts on My Holiday Inn Stay
Overall, I was very pleased with all aspects of our stay.
As a native Charlestonian, I am fiercely proud of my city, and I'm delighted with the way that the Holy City continues to grow and define itself as one of the up-and-coming spots in the South.
The Holiday Inn Charleston Historic District is a fantastic attention to this growing part of town, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for it.
Have you been to Charleston, South Carolina? What did you think of it?
